CHAPTER 2
SWB: Akinsehinwa Oluwaseun.
“Please don’t tell me you have a child somewhere” I said dramatically and Richard burst out laughing.
“Why would you even think of such? Awn awn see my baby’s face” he said as he made to touch my cheeks but I pulled away from him
Richard bent over the zinc for awhile and then suddenly burst out laughing.
I wasn’t sure of what to make out of the drama, what’s Richard and his sister up to?
“Nifemi, you get scored over nothing, well I was just trying to pull your legs.
There’s nothing secretive about me, I just wanted to play pranks with you.
Remember that day I told you nothing scares me and then you decided to sneak into my house when I was not aware, you remember how scared I was……
I burst into laughter before my fiance could finish his statement.
I remember that day vividly, that was two months ago, I had planned with Segun his best friend to get him frightened when he boasted that nothing scares him, in fact his reaction that day had me rolling on the ground as I was consumed with laughter.
“So I too decided to play pranks with you.
So the scope is no longer 1-0 but 1-1″
I hit his chest playfully and sprinkled water on him, he in return sprinkled water on me, we continued with our childish play until his sister interrupted us.
She gave her brother a questioning look before speaking to us.
“Lover birds” Dolly said as she stood between us staring into her brother’s eyes.
“I thought you said you were taking our Princess out for shopping?” She said still looking directly into her brother’s eyes.
Richard looked away and then said.
“That will be some other time” Richard said cleaning his hands with an handkerchief.
“What about what you wanted to discuss with her……..”
“Dolly please!” Richard said firmly before walking out angrily.
I was thrown into deeper confusion, I mean what game are these two trying to play with my mind.
“Dolly please!” Richard said firmly before walking out angrily.
I was thrown into deeper confusion, I mean what game are these two trying to play with my mind.
“Dolly please what’s going on? Is there something I need to know?” I asked as I placed my hands on her palms.
“It’s well, it’s well. I think em em, my brother is just afraid of what lies ahead.
Not finances, of course you know God has blessed him more than enough but em you know, the thought of hmnnn being a husband is enough fear on its own.
My brother is just being a chicken hearted man , don’t mind him.
He is concerned about being the perfect, I mean hundred percent perfect husband to you. You know he loves you so much” she said and then I took a deep breath.
At least if that’s the problem then it’s understandable.
“To be candid, I have my own fear too, I’m scared, what if I’m unable to be the perfect wife?” I said.
Dolly placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled.
“You are just the perfect woman any man can pray for. You have nothing to be afraid of, okay?” She said assuredly.
“Okay dear, thanks a lot”
They left after spending another hour with us. I could feel the friction between Richard and her sister but I couldn’t tell what it was.
A week to my wedding, my boss at work,a young guy in his early thirties called me and gave me a cheque of two hundred thousand as a gift for the preparation of my wedding.
I was really happy because I knew that would be an additional top up to my account balance.
“I’m really grateful sir, thanks a lot”
“You deserve more Nifemi, you have been of great value to this company, you are industrious, loyal, faithful, disciplined and respectful. What more can I ask of an employee?” Jude my employer said.
I wonder why the guy is still unmarried, he is rich, handsome and generous.
Well not as if girls have not been flocking round him, in fact the ones flocking round him in our company alone are more than a battalion, okay , now that was an exaggeration.
“If there’s anything else you need just let me know”
“This is more than enough sir thanks a lot” I replied.
“I would have loved to come for your wedding but as you know, I’ll be traveling to London for a business meeting with some of our business associates over there.” He said and I nodded.
“I’m even grateful that I won’t be there, at least that will save me from the pains of watching another man steal away the Babe I’ve been preserving for myself all this while, thinking when the right time comes I’ll propose, not knowing someone had even gone behind my back to do the introduction” he said as he laughed but I could feel a sense of pains and regret ,even in his voice. But come to think of it, I never knew Jude, sorry Mr Jude had a soft spot for me. Though I noticed he was more friendly with me than he was with the other employees, but he never for once showed a sign that he had any stuff like that in mind.
“I’m sorry I hope I didn’t say anything wrong?” He asked when he noticed I wasn’t saying anything.
“No sir, no sir” I said unsteadily.
“Your guy is a very lucky man, tell him I said if he doesn’t take good care of you like I desire, I will steal you away from him” he said and we both burst into laughter. That’s my boss for you, he can be very funny. The door opened after a knock and I knew who it was even without turning to confirm, it can only be Miss Damilola, my rival in this company. The lady who never wants to see me with the boss. At least now that she knows I’m getting married, she should let her mind be at rest that I’m not stealing her “Jude” from her. Damilola is one of those employees who made her crushing over my boss so obvious, no matter how Jude tells him off ,she just doesn’t give a bulge. Call her shameless, she’ll tell you that’s her surname. Mr. Jude never for once gave her attention as beautiful and endowed as she is. I don’t blame him, no man runs after a cheap product.
“Sir the file …….” She was saying before Jude interrupted her.
“You can see I’m busy, please come back later” she gave me a bad look before turning back.
“Huh, see this one, Miss Pepeye” I said in my mind.
“Sorry for the interruption. So send my regards to the lucky man, the cheque is my own personal gift to you. I’ll tell Miss Damilola to forward the company’s gift to your account”.
“Oh my goodness! This is just too much, thanks a lot sir. I’m so grateful”
“You deserve better Nifemi. You can go back to work. Enjoy the rest of your day”
“Thank you so much sir, May God bless you abundantly” I said as I made for the door happily, I opened the door only to meet Miss Damilola still standing by the door. Whether she was eavesdropping,I don’t know neither do I care. She almost pushed me out of the way as she entered the boss’ office, I smiled not minding all her stupid acts.
Today , 20th of July , my wedding day. I can’t tell enough how happy I am. Walking down the aisle in my pure white wedding gown. Beaming with smiles as my Father held my right hand while my bouquet was in the left with the choir singing the hymn; “Praise my Soul The King of Heaven”. Oh how sweet! If earthly marriage could be as sweet as this, then I wonder how the heavenly marriage would look like. Girl! You just must be there.
As soon as the hymn ended, a deacon came to say the opening prayer. The choir ministration was beautiful, they rendered a song “Ololufe meji” a song composed by Oluwaseunayofunmi Ak.
Finally the time to take our marital vows came, our Pastor came on the altar and we were ushered forward.
“I Akinsola Oluwanifemi take you Brother Richard Frederick as my lawfully wedded husband, I promise to stand by you , to nourish you and to love you in joy and in sadness, in plenty and in poverty, in sickness and in health till death do us part”
“Hallelujah” the whole congregation echoed. My husband had already made his own promise. Alas! I’m now married.
At the reception I danced like it would be my last. I was full of joy, now I’m a married woman, I have a man to call my own, a man I can pray with, a man I can share all with and of course a man I can hold affectionately without any form of guilt. At last I will be free to kiss and do all the gizgiz stuff.
Tonight is going to be “paracious”, now that’s my own English word. I’ve read several books on marriage. I’ve read “Things I wish I knew before I married You” by Gary Chapman, I’ve read Opposite Attract by Tim Lahaye, I’ve read “Submission”, Preparing For Marriage by Pastor Adejare Adeboye. I’ve read several other books even the ones that talk about how to enjoy sexual intimacy with one’s partner and I’m going to be employing all the logics. Richard had better be more than ready. I have had to wait till today, I mean tonight will be my first experience getting sexually intimate with a man, so you can imagine the curiousity. I have several things I want to try out with my husband, things like praying together, bathing together, feeding each other, washing plates and cooking together, engaging in playful wrestling, where I will sit on him like I’m John Cena and give him playful punches while he begs for mercy, we won’t have a referee though . I’m just full of a lot of expectations!
The reception came to an end and my husband and I got into the car to be driven to our own matrimonial home. Dolly came close and I opened the door to give her a warm hug, she has been a great sister to me. In fact my biological sister couldn’t have done more than she did if she were in Nigeria.
“I love you so much, thank you so much Dolly, you are so rare to come by. You are more than a sister in law to me” I said as I hugged her, she smiled while staring at her brother. I could read from her face that she had a lot she wanted to say to him , what it was,I don’t know.
“I love you Nifemi and it’s the truth, please stay with my brother till the end” she said with a form of worry written on her face.
“Of course, I will stay with him till we are hundred and ten” I said and she managed a smile while I laughed. Richard wasn’t laughing neither was he smiling. He didn’t even dance all through the period of the reception, I guess he is stressed up or something.
“Take care of yourself Dolly” I said as the car drove off to our matrimonial home.
Welcome to womanhood!